Egg inspection device

ABSTRACT

An egg-examining device, comprising a sampling device, by which a liquid sample to be taken can be taken from an egg of a rack loaded with eggs, a feeding device for feeding the rack loaded with eggs to the sampling device, and a control unit, by which the feeding device and the sampling device can be controlled. The feeding device feeds the rack to the sampling device at an oblique angle of between 20° and 80° to a plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity. A lifting-out device is provided, by which the egg can be lifted out of the rack and by which the egg can be put into a sampling position, in which the liquid amount to be taken can be taken from the egg by the sampling device.

The present invention relates to an egg inspection device, in particularto an egg sex determination device. A generic egg inspection device withthe features of the preamble of claim 1 is known for example from EP 2786 656 A1.

In the device described in EP 2 786 656 A1, liquid samples are takenfrom an array of eggs by means of cannulas in order to be able tocharacterize the eggs more precisely on the basis of the characteristicproperties of the respective liquid sample.

For example, a predetermined amount of allantoic liquid is taken fromthe eggs to determine the sex of embryonic chicks.

A plurality of eggs is accommodated in a grid-like array into a rack. Insaid rack, the eggs lie in their horizontal direction, i.e. the axis ofrotation of the egg is perpendicular to the direction of gravity. Sincethe eggs are not arranged in a non-rotating manner in the rack, the eggsin the device according to EP 2 786 656 A1 are fixed and positioned intheir horizontal direction within the rack by means of a forming punchwhich is pressed laterally onto the egg.

The shell is then punctured using a thin cannula provided on a samplingdevice which pierces the egg from the side, i.e. perpendicular to thehorizontal direction of the egg, to extract a liquid sample.

The method described in this prior art is relatively inaccurate, becausea positioning of the eggs and thus an extraction of a liquid at aspecific location within the egg is not always guaranteed.

Based on the foregoing, the invention proposes an egg inspection deviceaccording to claim 1 in order to solve the above problem.

This is characterized in that the feeding system is arranged to feed therack to the sampling device at an oblique angle of between 20° and 80°to a plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity, and an excavatingdevice is provided, by means of which the egg can be lifted out of therack and by means of which the egg can be brought into a samplingposition in which the quantity of liquid to be removed can be extractedfrom the egg by means of the sampling device, wherein the lifting-outdevice is controllable by means of the control unit.

Particularly when allantoic liquid is extracted, it has been shown thatif the eggs are not pierced perpendicularly to the horizontal butslightly obliquely to the axis of rotation, preferably obliquely fromthe rear of the egg, an area within the egg is hit in order to be ableto extract predetermined amounts of liquid in a reproducible manner. Ifthe egg is twisted by the previously described angle with respect to itsbase, the allantoic liquid accumulates to a suitable extent at awell-defined point in the egg so that a desired amount of allantoicliquid can be extracted through the cannula. Particularly preferredangle ranges are between 30° and 60°, preferably 40° to 50°, inparticular 45°. The corresponding angle ranges may each form upper orlower limits of the egg alignment. In addition, it has been shown that agood puncture force is guaranteed under the angle ranges describedabove, without permanent damage to the shell leading to breakage of theegg. Since the eggs lie either horizontally or vertically in the rack,in particular vertically, i.e. the longitudinal axis of the eggs isperpendicular to the rack plane, there is a corresponding oblique angleat which the individual eggs are transferred from the lifting-out deviceto the sampling device. From the lifting-out device, the eggs arepreferably brought out perpendicularly to the rack or the surface formedby the rack or perpendicular to the inclined feeding plane, preferablythrough the dimensions of the rack, and fixed in this position, e.g. bya corresponding device. After such an egg has been sampled, i.e. acorresponding amount of liquid has been taken from it, it can bereturned to the rack with the lifting-out device and the rack ispreferably moved translationally in the same oblique angle in order tosample the next egg in the rack. In this way, essentially all eggsarranged diagonally one behind the other in the inclined rack can besampled one after the other. For sampling, the respective egg is liftedout of the rack by means of a lifting-out device and positioned in thesampling position. Since the racks are already fed obliquely, the eggscan be pierced obliquely while they are individually lifted.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the lifting-out devicecan be configured such that it can rotate an egg lifted with thelifting-out device into a predetermined puncture position. When the eggis lifted out of the rack by the lifting-out device, it may occur thatit is not in a position where the sampling would ideally take place.Often the egg can be rotated by rotation, e.g. around its longitudinaland/or transverse axis, to be brought into a better sampling position.This can be achieved by vibrating, for example, or by electricallydriven rollers on the lifting-out device.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the lifting-out devicemay be a mechanical lifting-out device, or an air-stream operatedlifting-out device in which the egg is lifted by means of an air-stream.As far as a mechanical lifting-out device is concerned, a design asdescribed below with an egg stamp and a stop element is advantageous.However, the egg can also be lifted out by means of an air stream andpressed against a stop element, for example, in order to be brought intothe correct position. In this case, a hose with an opening below the eggis positioned in the rack and the egg is lifted in the air stream usingcompressed air.

In order to enable the positioning and alignment of the egg to besampled, a guided lifting of the egg is advantageous that may be donevia the egg stamp, preferably via a rotatably mounted egg stamp and/orvia an air stream. The egg is then held in position from the other side,e.g. with a soft suction cup. This fixation can also be donemechanically and/or by air stream. In addition, the egg can be guidedventrally into position.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the sampling device mayhave a cannula connected to a vacuum generating device, the quantity ofliquid to be extracted from the egg being controllable by means of thecontrol unit via the pressure generated in the vacuum generating device.The control unit may control a pneumatic system formed, for example, bya vacuum hose connected to the cannula and connected to a vacuumgenerator. By controlling the pressure, a well-defined amount of liquidcan be extracted from the egg after the cannula has obliquely piercedthe egg shell. With such a pneumatic system and sampling via vacuumcontrol, mechanical elements similar to those present when simple pistonsyringes are used as sampling devices can be reduced. The samplingdevice with the cannula protruding from it can be moved vertically, i.e.in the direction of gravity, for sampling, with the cannula or tip ofthe cannula piercing the egg shell and taking the correspondingpredetermined amount of liquid, e.g. from the allantois. Preferredcannula outer diameters are 0.55 mm; 0.60 mm; 0.65 mm; 0.70 mm; 0.75 mm;0.80 mm and preferred cannula inner diameters are 0.10 mm; 0.15 mm; 0.20mm, 0.25 mm, 0.30 mm; 0.35 mm; 0.40 mm; 0.45 mm; 0.50 mm. The abovevalues can each be upper or lower limits of a cannula thickness range.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the sampling device mayhave a cannula revolver with several cannulas. A cannula revolver may beprovided as a rotatable device in which the cannula is rotated aftereach puncture, preferably by means of the control unit. Thus, a new ordifferent cannula can be used for each puncture. This ensures fasterprocess control. Preferably, while the other cannula is used forpiercing, the cannula with which the egg was previously pierced can becleaned at the same time. Combining piercing and cleaning the needle inone step can save time in sampling and cleaning. The cannula revolvercan have several needles, in particular 6 needles.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the cannula may includeat least two openings through which the amount of liquid to be extractedcan be taken from the egg. It has been shown that sometimes, because theposition of membranes within the egg is not the same even when the eggis always oriented in the same way, if only a single opening is providedat the tip of the cannula, problems may occur with liquid extractionbecause such a membrane covers the opening. If at least two openings areprovided, in particular exactly two openings, it is unlikely that bothopenings will be covered at the same time.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the cannula may includeat least two openings by means of which the amount of liquid to beextracted can be taken from the egg. It has been shown that sometimes,because the position of membranes within the egg is not the same evenwhen the egg is always aligned in the same way, provided that only asingle opening is intended at the tip of the cannula, problems may ariseduring liquid extraction because such a membrane covers the opening. Ifat least two openings are provided, in particular exactly two openings,it is unlikely that both openings will be covered at the same time.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a protruding length ofthe cannula, with which this protrudes from the contact surface providedon the sampling device, which comes into contact with the egg duringsampling, may be adjustable. Since the eggs arranged in a rack can be ofdifferent sizes, e.g. depending on the laying age of the hen or thegenetics, a different puncture depth of the cannula may be necessarydepending on the egg size in order to extract the amount of liquid fromthe egg. The optimum puncture depth can be determined automatically byimaging methods. The protruding length of the cannula is preferablyadjusted automatically for each egg.

After a definite sampling situation has been found, the sampling deviceis always pressed vertically on the egg until the cannula has completelydisappeared into the egg. The immersion of the needle inliquid/allantois can be confirmed via a control device and the definedsuction process can be started.

For example, it may also be detected as soon as the egg hits a contactsurface of the sampling device. As soon as this contact surface istouched by the egg, which can be measured by means of optical methodssuch as a camera or a pressure sensor on the contact surface, thecontrol unit instructs the sampling device to stop its movement. Thelength of the cannula protruding from the sampling device thereforedetermines the depth at which the liquid is extracted from the egg.According to a further aspect of the invention, the protruding length ofthe cannula can be adjusted by means of the control unit. For example,the control unit can adjust and vary the length of the cannula dependingon the information about the egg, and thus selectively predetermine adepth for each corresponding egg depending on its properties, e.g. itsthickness, from which the amount of liquid is taken.

Alternatively or additionally, or also if the protruding cannula lengthcannot be changed, the control unit can move the sampling device forwarduntil the cannula is immersed in the liquid in the egg (allantois). Thecontrol unit may, for example, detect the cannula being immersed in aliquid (allantois) and stop the forward movement of the sampling unitwhen the desired depth is reached. The suction process is then started,for example.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the sampling device canidentify a light barrier which can be used by means of the control unitto determine whether the amount of liquid extracted from the eggcorresponds to the amount of liquid to be extracted and cannot bealtered by air bubbles. The light barrier can be provided in a positionin which, for example, the vacuum hose or another transparent elementthrough which the liquid is sucked in is illuminated. As soon as so muchliquid has been drawn in via the cannula that the predetermined amountof liquid has been reached, the light barrier can determine the meniscusand thus the amount of liquid extracted from the egg. Preferred amountsof liquid may be 1 μl to 50 μl, preferably 5 to 30 μl, in particular 10to 20 μl. The above values may form upper and lower limits. Particularlywhen extracting such small amounts of liquid, the determination of theextracted amount of liquid using light barriers has proven to be a goodsolution in order to carry out an exact determination of the extractionamount and, if necessary, to detect air bubbles.

Several light barriers may also be provided, e.g. light barriers basedon different colored light. For example, problems that occur whenmeasuring the amount of liquid taken can be minimized, in the event thatred blood cells are present in the extracted liquid.

According to a further aspect of the invention, at least two samplingdevices may be provided which are combined in one sampling unit so thateach sampling device of the at least two liquid samples to be taken atthe same time may be used to extract the liquid sample from one egg ofeach rack, and at least two lifting-out devices may be provided, whereinby means of the respective lifting-out device of the at least twolifting-out devices, the egg of the rack associated with the respectivesampling unit may be lifted out of the rack and brought into thesampling position. In particular, more than two sampling devices areprovided.

According to this further aspect, at least two sampling devices may beprovided, each of which is associated with a lifting-out device, wherebyeach lifting-out device lifts an egg from the rack and feeds it to therespective sampling device. In this way, at least two eggs may besampled simultaneously. This further aspect may also include more thantwo sampling devices and correspondingly, more than two lifting-outdevices so that, for example, three, four, five or even ten eggs mayalways be sampled simultaneously. The corresponding eggs of the rackswhich can be sampled at the same time, should preferably be placed nextto each other in a row of the rack in a transverse direction to theinclination of the rack.

For example, it is possible that at least two or more eggs can always besampled side by side using a plurality of corresponding sampling devicesand, after the corresponding row of eggs has been sampled, the rack willbe moved by one unit to sample the row of eggs lying below in theoblique direction.

Insofar as the rack comprises more eggs next to each other (transverseto the inclined position) than sampling devices are provided for, thesampling unit with the sampling devices can also be moved in thishorizontal direction, thus, in the direction of the eggs lying next toeach other in a row, by means of the control unit. For example, two,three, four or five eggs lying next to each other in a row can besampled simultaneously. After sampling an entire row of eggs from a rackin the horizontal direction, the next row below in the oblique directionis sampled.

The configuration of at least two sampling devices with one lifting-outdevice directed to this device provides a fast procedure so that severaleggs can always be sampled at the same time.

According to a further aspect, the control unit can be configured insuch a way that for each of the at least two sampling devices itindividually adjusts the amount of liquid to be taken from the eggdepending on the egg parameters of the egg assigned to the samplingdevice.

Depending for example on the egg size or the hatching day of the egg,the amount of allantoic liquid contained in the egg may vary. It istherefore convenient to set the amount of allantoic liquid to beextracted individually for each of the at least two or more samplingdevices, depending on previously determined egg parameters. For thispurpose, it may be provided that the pressure in the correspondingvacuum hoses assigned to each sampling device can be individuallyadjusted to extract an appropriate amount of liquid. The positioning ofthe preferably provided light barriers for determining the quantity ofliquid extracted can therefore also be controlled by the control unitdepending on the amount of liquid to be extracted.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the sampling device maybe movable in the direction of gravity. In addition, the sampling devicemay be movable parallel to the surface within which the rack istranslationally movable by the feeding device, and transverse to thedirection of translation of the rack prescribed by the feeding device.

In particular, the sampling device moves in the direction of gravity andin the direction of the individual eggs in rows side by sidetransversely to the direction of translation of the rack, that isparallel to the surface within which the rack can be translationallymoved by the feeding device, and in the direction transversely to thedirection of translation of the rack prescribed by the feeding device.For example, the control unit can control an actuator that interactswith the sampling device. This means that the sampling device can bemoved in at least two directions within one plane. Such translationaloperability can be provided both for the case of a single samplingdevice and for the case where several sampling devices are combined inone sampling unit. If all sampling devices are combined in the samplingunit, it is possible to move all sampling devices simultaneously in auniform manner. The direction of movement in the direction of gravity isintended to move the sampling device towards the respective egg, forexample to press the cannula into the egg shell. The movement intranslation direction is intended, for example, for the sampling of eggslying in rows next to each other transversely to the feeding device inthe rack. If all eggs lying next to each other in the rack are sampledsimultaneously with the sampling devices combined in one sampling unit,such movement in translational direction can be omitted completely.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a sample collectiondevice can be provided which takes up the amount of liquid extractedfrom the egg by the sampling device. Such a sample collection device canbe any vessel or nonwoven assigned to the egg inspection device intowhich the amount of liquid extracted from the egg by the sampling devicecan be delivered. It is a matter of course that preferably the liquidextracted from an egg is placed in a corresponding empty samplecollection device, e.g. the empty vessel or an unused nonwoven, andtherefore as many sample collection devices can be provided as eggs arecontained in the rack.

According to a further aspect of the invention, at least two samplecollection devices combined in one unit may be provided from which therespective amount of liquid extracted from the respective egg by the atleast two sample collection devices can be delivered. As soon as, forexample, two or more sampling devices are provided next to each other,it is also advantageous to arrange two or more (e.g. a correspondingnumber of) sample collection devices next to each other into which theliquid can be dispensed simultaneously from the respective samplingdevices. In particular, the number of sample collection devices may besuch that they at least correspond to the number of eggs in the rack,and preferably the sample collection devices may also be arranged in thesame way as the eggs in the rack, e.g. in the form of a grid.

The more sample collection devices are combined into one unit, theeasier it is to move this unit relative to the sample collection deviceto collect the extracted samples.

According to a further aspect, the at least two sample collectiondevices combined in the unit can be configured by a nonwoven or a titerplate. The method of determining a property of an amount of liquid isused in particular, for example, to determine whether an embryonicstructure in an egg will later become a male or female chick by means ofthe oestrone sulfate concentration of the allantoic liquid. Such amethod is a biochemical method which is carried out using a doubleanti-body technique. On the nonwoven or the titer plate, for example,there are bound oestrone sulfate-specific antibodies. The reaction todetermine the concentration of oestrone sulfate, for example, is carriedout directly on the sample collection device, i.e. the concentration canbe carried out indirectly at the corresponding location of the nonwovenwhere the sample taken is applied or at the corresponding location ofthe titer plate or so-called well plate. For further details, referenceis made to the German patent application no. DE 10 2015 226 490.4, thedisclosure of which is used to determine the oestrone sulfateconcentration in allantoic liquid by means of the double antibodytechnique. In particular, a titer plate coated by direct coating or sucha nonwoven can be used as a sampling device. For the determination ofthe concentration of oestrone sulfate, reference is made to theaforementioned application.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the sampling device maybe positioned in a delivery position after sampling and extraction ofthe same from the respective egg, and the sample collection device, whenthe sampling device is positioned in the delivery position, may bemovable from a sample collection device rest position to a collectionposition in which the sample may be delivered from the sampling deviceto the sample collection device.

An actuator, for example, which is controlled by the control device insuch a way that after sampling by means of the sampling device andtaking it out of the respective egg when the sampling device ispositioned in a sampling position, the sample collection device is movedfrom a sample collection device rest position to a collection positionin which the sample is delivered from the sample device to the samplecollection device, is associated with the sample delivery device. Thus,the control unit can bring the sample collection device to the samplingdevice via an actuator in such a way that it does not have to betranslationally moved for sample delivery to the sample collectiondevice with the exception of movement in the height direction.

It is therefore possible to configure the sampling device in such a waythat, for example, it can only be moved in two directions, namely in thevertical direction and in the lateral direction, thus, in the directionin which the eggs are arranged next to each other in the racktransversely to the oblique orientation of the rack. Nevertheless, thereare also variants in which it is preferred to configure the samplingdevice in such a way that it can be moved translationally in alldirections and/or can also be rotated. The sampling device is thereforepreferably always moved to a position below the sampling device,especially below the end of the cannula from which the sampled liquid isto be dispensed.

In addition to vertical movement, the sample collection device can alsomove not only in a horizontal direction but also in another horizontaldirection where the eggs lie next to each other.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a rinsing device may beprovided which, after sample delivery into the sample collection device,can be moved from a rinsing device rest position to a rinsing positionin which the sampling device is rinsed by means of a pressure profile ofthe pressure generated in the vacuum generating device. After the liquidsample has been discharged from the sampling device, it is rinsed bymeans of the rinsing device. For this purpose, the sample collectiondevice can first be returned to the sample collection device restposition and the rinsing device can be moved from the rinsing devicerest position to the rinsing position. Both situations can take placesimultaneously, e.g. using the cannula revolver described above.

The rinsing device is therefore preferably always moved to a positionbelow the sampling device, especially below the end of the cannula, andthe sampling device or cannula is immersed in the rinsing device filledwith rinsing liquid. The pressure curve in the vacuum hose is controlledvia the control device in such a way that rinsing liquid is sucked inand subsequently discharged again. This rinsing device preferablycontains alcohol, which denatures the biological material from the eggwhich remains in the sampling device. Additional rinsing after rinsingwith alcohol may, for example, take place via the pneumatic system bypumping demineralized water through the vacuum hoses.

After rinsing, air can also be blown through the sampling device via thepneumatic system in order to dry said device.

After rinsing and drying, the sampling device can be reused to takeanother liquid sample from the egg.

In particular, the procedure carried out in the egg inspection device iscontrolled by the control unit in such a way that, insofar as only onesampling device is provided, it takes a liquid sample from theindividual eggs according to the grid method and delivers it to acorresponding sample collection device. After each sampling anddelivery, a rinsing process is carried out. If several sampling devicesare provided next to each other, a corresponding liquid sample canalways be taken simultaneously, e.g. from two, three, four, five or teneggs. This liquid sample is then transferred to a corresponding numberof sample collection devices. All sampling devices are then rinsed. Therinsing device may be a simple liquid vessel into which all samplingdevices are immersed simultaneously.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the sample collectiondevice and rinsing device for rinsing the sampling device may beconfigured in one unit. If the sample collection device and the rinsingdevice are configured as one unit, they can be easily replaced.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the lifting-out devicecan have an egg stamp which can be moved through a mesh of the rack inorder to lift the egg stored in this mesh out of it. In addition, a stopelement may be provided, preferably with a cranial egg head stop,against which the egg can be pressed by the egg stamp and whichdetermines the sampling position. The egg stamp can have or be made of abuffering and/or balancing material which allows the egg to be adjustedin the correct direction. An egg stamp preferably moves perpendicularlyto the inclined orientation of the rack through a respective mesh of therack to lift the respective egg out of the rack. During the egg beingpushed out of the rack by the egg stamp, the egg stamp is lifted and theegg base is pressed against a stop element to fix the egg. The stopelement may be configured to have a curvature corresponding to thecurvature of the egg base to hold the egg between the stamp and the stopelement so that the axis of rotation of the egg passes through the eggstamp and the stop element. Preferably, the control unit controls theegg stamp and the stop element.

According to a further aspect of the invention, at least one actuatorcan be assigned to the egg stamp and the stop element which can becontrolled via the control unit. The respective actuator of the eggstamp or the stop element causes a translational movement of the eggstamp and the stop element by instruction of the control unit so thatthese elements are moved translationally perpendicular to the inclinedrack. This facilitates pushing the egg through the rack. Since bothparts, namely the stamp and the stop element, are equipped with anactuator, these two elements can interact in such a way that they gripand hold the egg between them. In this way, the egg held in the samplingposition can be safely sampled.

According to a preferred further aspect of the invention, a positiondetermining device may be provided by which the position of the egg isdetermined, wherein the control unit controls the positioning of the eggbased on the data of the position determining device. The lighting unitsdescribed below which are preferably provided in the egg stamp, canserve as such a position determining device. As an alternative or inaddition, any other method or system, such as a camera system or aninfrared system, may also be provided to determine the relative positionof the egg and/or in particular the position of internal compartments ofthe egg, in particular the allantois.

On the basis of the data from the position determining device, thecontrol device can give instructions to position the egg accordingly.The positioning is carried out, for example, by means of the lifting-outdevice (mechanically and/or by air stream).

According to a further aspect of the invention, a lighting unit can beprovided to illuminate the egg in order to determine the position of theegg. Said lighting unit can preferably be configured of one or more LEDlamps. Said lighting unit illuminates the egg, which is referred to asthe so-called shearing. This allows the positioning of the embryonicchick or the allantois to be better determined. In addition to a singlelighting unit, several lighting units can also be provided.

In connection with this further aspect, it may be advantageous that theegg stamp works together with another rotating element that rotates theegg in such a way that a predetermined position of the egg can be betterreached. In this case, the system can be buffered.

The egg stamp can be provided with the lighting unit in accordance witha further aspect of the invention. Advantageously, the lighting unit canbe arranged inside the egg stamp.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a UV lamp unit can beprovided which illuminates at least one of the following devices to killbacteria and/or germs: eggs, sampling device, rinsing device, samplecollection device, lifting-out device. In particular, it is advantageousto arrange the UV lamp unit as a kind of UV tube above the inclined rackand between the sampling device and the sample collection device. The UVtube is preferably arranged transversely to the inclined position of therack.

According to a preferred further aspect of the invention, the controlunit may be configured in such a way that a sampling of the eggs in theracks is automated after the racks with the eggs have been introducedinto the egg inspection device, and after all eggs of the rack have beensampled, a corresponding information is output. This means that a kindof program is stored in the control device in which an automated methodfor sampling the eggs is carried out.

Insofar as the invention is based on the lifting-out device, this canalso be omitted completely and any combination or configuration ofsampling device, rinsing device, sample collection device, rack, controldevice, position determining device, or even an individual of theseelements can form an invention in itself. The aforementioned devices orelements can also each form their own invention independently of theother components of the overall device.

Further preferred further aspects of the invention result from thefollowing described embodiment in connection with the drawing.

Therein:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an egginspection device;

FIG. 2A shows a top view on an egg inspection device which is similar tothat of FIG. 1, wherein the rack is positioned in a starting position;and

FIG. 2B shows a top view of the egg inspection device of FIG. 2A,wherein the rack is positioned in an end position after having sampledall eggs;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the method for sampling an egg as iscarried out in the egg inspection devices of FIG. 1 or 2;

FIG. 4A shows a section of the egg inspection device of FIG. 2 in whicha sampling device with sampling units is shown;

FIG. 4B und FIG. 4C shows an individual sampling device of the samplingunit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5A shows a unit consisting of delivery unit and rinsing unit;

FIG. 5B shows the unit of FIG. 5A, wherein a protective covering isremoved;

FIG. 6 shows a detail view of an egg stamp of the embodiment of FIG. 2;and

FIG. 7 shows an example of a user interface of the software by means ofwhich the device is controlled.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an egginspection device.

The egg inspection device includes a feeding device 1, a lifting-outdevice 2, a sampling device 3, a sample collection device 4, a rinsingdevice 5, and a control unit 6. The lifting-out device 2 includes an eggstamp 7 and a stop element 8. The control unit 6 controls, according toactuators A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, in order to position or move theaforementioned elements or units.

Alternatively to the fact that the lifting-out device is a mechanicallifting-out device with the egg stamp 7 as well as the stop element 8, alifting-out device operated by means of an air stream can also beprovided in which the egg is lifted by means of an air stream. In thisway, the egg can be lifted out by means of an air stream and pressedagainst a stop element in order to be brought into the correct position.In this case, a hose with an opening below the egg is positioned in therack and compressed air is used to lift the egg in the air stream.

In order to enable the positioning and alignment of the egg to besampled, a guided lifting of the egg is advantageous. This can be donevia the egg stamp, preferably via rotatably mounted egg stamps, and/orvia an air stream. The egg is then held in position from the other side,e.g. with a soft suction cup. This fixation can also be donemechanically and/or by air stream. In addition, the egg position can beguided ventrally.

The feeding device 1 comprises a first actuator A1, the lifting-outdevice 2 from the egg stamp 7 and the stop element 8, a second actuatorA2 which sets the stop element 8, and a third actuator A3 which sets theegg stamp 7. The syringe 9 shown in this Figure is drawn over a fourthactuator A4 shown in FIG. 1. A base plate 10 with the attached syringe 9forms a sampling unit, whereby the syringe 9 forms the sampling device.The sampling unit as a whole is placed over a fifth actuator A5. A sixthactuator A6 is assigned to the sample collection device 4 and a seventhactuator is assigned to the rinsing device 5.

FIG. 2A shows a top view of the egg inspection device shown in FIG. 1,wherein a rack 13 is shown positioned in a starting position. Adifference between the egg inspection device shown in FIG. 2 and thefirst embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is that no simple syringe is providedon the sampling unit as sampling device 9, but sampling takes place viacannulas 12 connected to vacuum hoses 11, each cannula with vacuum hose11 connected thereto forming a sampling unit 9, and thus five samplingdevices are provided in the sampling unit. Any number of sampling units,in particular 5, 10, 15, sampling devices 9, can be combined into oneunit between one and a large number of sampling units.

FIG. 2A shows a starting position after the rack 13 has been insertedinto the feeding device 1 as presently, for example, half filled witheggs 19. In the present case, the feeding device 1 is designed as a kindof frame 14 in which the rack 13 can be inserted in such a way that itsside walls are essentially flush with the frame 14.

Said frame has a carriage 15 on two sides opposite each other in thetransverse direction of the device, which carriage is movably mounted oncorresponding rails 16 and can thus be moved from the starting positionshown in FIG. 2A to an end position shown in FIG. 2B via the controlunit 6 by means of the first actuator A1 not shown in FIG. 2A.

In order to subsequently facilitate the identification of the individualdirections, the direction of gravity, i.e. the direction in FIGS. 1, 2Aand 2B is to be referred to from top to bottom as the y-axis, the axisperpendicular to this vertical, i.e. to the y-axis and transverse to therack 13 as the z-axis, and the axis in which the inclination of the rack13 extends is to be referred to as the x-axis. A correspondingcoordinate system is shown in FIG. 2A. A corresponding coordinate systemis also shown in FIG. 1. The first actuator A1 ensures a translationalmovement of the feeding device 1 in the y-x plane. The second actuatorA2 and the third actuator A3, ensure a translational movement of theindividual elements of the lifting-out device within the y-x plane andperpendicular to the movement of the first actuator A1. The fourth orfifth actuator A4, A5 ensures a translational movement of thecorresponding elements (sampling device or sampling unit) in they-direction. The seventh or eighth actuator A7, A8 ensures atranslational movement of the corresponding elements in the x-direction.

The rack 13 is configured as a kind of grid 17 with equally largemeshes, wherein one single egg 18 can be held in each mesh. Since themeshes are limited only by strip-like walls standing upright, each egg18 lies with its tip downwards in the respective mesh. That is, FIG. 2Ashows a base side of the eggs 18. The eggs 18 lie in a matrix, whereinin the present example five eggs 18 lie in transverse direction (z-axis)next to each other and 17 eggs in longitudinal direction or diagonaldirection (x-axis) behind each other. In the following, the direction ofthe z-axis is always referred to as next to each other for the eggs andthe direction of translation (x-axis) of the feeding device 1 is alwaysreferred to behind each other for the eggs.

In the present embodiment, five sampling devices 3 are provided on thebase plate 10 to form the sampling unit. Each of the sampling devices 3has a modular structure and is described in more detail below inrelation to FIGS. 4A to 4C. As shown in FIGS. 4B and C, each samplingdevice 3 is configured as a module which, for example, can be attachedto the base plate 10 via screw connections. A contact surface 19, fromwhich the cannula 12 protrudes, is provided on a side of the modulewhich is directed towards the egg when mounted on the base plate 10(hereinafter referred to as the bottom side of the module). The cannula12 is held by a kind of clamp connection between the plate elements 21,22 of the module by pressing the plate element 22 together by means ofthe two fastening elements 20 shown in FIG. 4B, which in this case arehexagon socket screws. As shown in FIG. 4A, a vacuum hose 11 isconnected to the rear of each cannula 12, which is preferably a thinmetal cannula with a sharp tip. The vacuum hoses 11 are connected to apneumatic system which is not shown in detail in the Figures. With thenegative pressure generated in the pneumatic system, a predeterminedquantity of liquid can be taken from the egg 18 with the cannula 12after the respective egg has been inserted.

The sampling procedure is described in more detail below in conjunctionwith FIG. 3.

After an operator has inserted the rack 13 loaded with the eggs 18 intothe feeding device 1 (step a) in FIG. 3), the egg 18 is positioned. Forthis purpose, the feeding device 1 is moved via the control unit 6 insuch a way that the first row of eggs, seen in the translation directionof the rack (x-axis), stops at the level of the sampling device 3 (seeFIG. 2A) (step b) in FIG. 3). In this position, for example, five eggsare arranged below the respective 5 sampling devices 3 of the samplingunit. With the egg stamps 7 shown in FIG. 6, the five eggs aresimultaneously pressed out through the meshes of the rack 13substantially perpendicular to the rack 13, that is, perpendicular tothe surface formed by the frame 14 of the rack 13 or perpendicular tothe inclined feeding plane, in order to be lifted out of the rack 13 andpressed against the stop element 8 schematically shown in FIG. 1.

The eggs with their thicker rear side are lifted out of the rack at anoblique angle between 20 and 80°. The angle φ (see FIG. 1) between therotation axis (longitudinal direction) of the egg 18 and the verticaldirection (y-axis), i.e. the direction in which the cannula 12 ispierced into the egg 18 (in the present case the direction in which thesampling unit can be moved in its vertical direction), corresponds dueto trigonometry to the angle χ, at which the feeding device 1 feeds therack 13 obliquely (see FIG. 1). The angle φ between the rotation axis(longitudinal direction) of the egg 18 and the cannula 12 corresponds tothe angle χ between the x-axis (in the present case the bottom surface)and the translation direction of the feeding device 1, since its legsare perpendicular to each other in pairs. The lifting direction of theeggs is perpendicular to the rack plane, which corresponds to thetranslational plane.

After lifting out the egg 18, this is now held between the egg stamp 7and the stop element 8.

In the present example, the complete base plate 10 with the samplingdevices 3 attached to it that is the sampling unit is then lowered onthe y-axis so that the five cannulas 12 simultaneously pierce the fiveeggs 18 lifted up next to each other.

As soon as the contact surface 19 of the respective sampling unit 3 hitsthe shell of the respective egg 18, this is detected by the control unit6 and the sampling is started.

For this purpose, after the hole in the egg 18 has been created bypiercing with the respective cannula 12, a vacuum is created in thevacuum hoses 11 so that a corresponding amount of liquid is sucked outof the egg.

The predetermined target quantity of the liquid extracted from the eggis detected by a light barrier 25 shown schematically in FIG. 4B. Thismeans that as soon as the liquid meniscus in the vacuum hose 11 reachesthe light barrier 25, the pressure is kept constant.

The sampling unit is then retracted again (in vertical direction;y-axis) and the cannulas 12 are pulled out of the eggs. The tips of thecannulas 12 should preferably be held at such a height that the samplecollection device 4 or the rinsing device 5 can be moved translationallybelow the tip of the cannula by means of the sixth or seventh actuatorA6, A7 shown in FIG. 1, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1, out of thesample delivery and cleaning assembly provided with reference sign 26.

In the present example, this is a so-called titer plate in whichindividual sample collection devices 4, i.e. for example cavities, arearranged side by side and one behind the other, resulting in a matrix ofsample collection devices 4.

After translational movement of the titer plate (in x-axis) under thecannula ends (step e) in FIG. 3), the corresponding pressure is nowapplied to the vacuum hoses 11 by means of the control unit 6 so thatthe amount of liquid extracted from the eggs 18 is discharged from thesampling devices 3 into the corresponding sample collection device 27provided below. This is done essentially simultaneously so that afterfive amounts of liquid have been taken from five eggs 18 at the sametime in the present example, also from five liquid samples, one of eachis delivered to the corresponding sample collection device. Thecorresponding titer plate (step d) in FIG. 3) is inserted into the egginspection device beforehand by the operator, as is the rack with theeggs.

An analysis is then carried out in each of the sample collection devices3 and in the present case, for example, the concentration of oestronesulfate in the allantoic liquid taken from the eggs 18 is determined inorder to conclude the sex of the embryonic chicks. Such a method for thebiological determination of the oestrone sulfate concentration for theidentification of female and male chicken embryos is described in theGerman patent application number 10 2015 226 490.4, the disclosure ofwhich is included in this respect by this reference. The concentrationof oestrone sulfate can be indirectly determined by means of acolorimetric measurement.

After the individual amounts of liquid removed from the eggs have beentransferred to the sample collection devices 4, the five eggs 18 held bythe lifting-out device are returned to the position of the rack (step c)in FIG. 3). Alternatively, this can be done immediately after liquidextraction and before sample delivery.

The titer plate, i.e. the matrix of sample collection devices 4, ismoved back to the basic position shown in FIG. 2B or 1 in the sampledelivery and cleaning group.

For cleaning the cannulas 12, the rinsing device 5 which in the presentexample consists of a trough 28 filled with alcohol and a collectingvessel 29, is now moved by means of the seventh actuator A7 (see FIG.1), as shown in FIG. 7, from the basic position within the sampledelivery and cleaning group into a rinsing position not shown in theFigure, in which the rinsing device 7 comes to a standstillsubstantially below the cannulas 12, i.e. below the respective samplingdevice 3. The cannulas can be cleaned after each piercing operation(step f) in FIG. 3).

In a first step, the sampling unit is moved downwards in the verticaldirection, i.e. on the y-axis, in order to immerse the cannulas 12 withtheir tips in the trough 28 filled with alcohol.

Via the control unit 6, a small amount of alcohol is now sucked from thetrough 28 into the cannula in order to denature the biological residues.After this, the sampling unit is retracted upwards in the verticaldirection (along the y-axis) via the fifth actuator A5 and thecollecting vessel 29 is moved from the rinsing position to a rinsingsolution discharge position so that the collecting vessel 29 is arrangedbelow the sampling device 3. After this, demineralized water which isstored in a container of the device not shown in the Figures isintroduced into the cannulas 12 via the vacuum hoses and the cannulas 12are rinsed with this water which is collected in the collecting vessel29.

After rinsing, drying of the cannulas and/or vacuum hoses preferablytakes place. This can be done, for example, by means of separate airnozzles which are provided in the inspection device and blow thecannulas 12 from the outside. In the present example, air is blownthrough the vacuum hoses 11 and thus the cannulas 12 are blown by meansof the pneumatic system.

After the sampling devices have been cleaned, the rinsing device 5 ispulled back into the basic position as shown in FIG. 1.

Subsequently, the feeding device 1 is positioned via the control unit 6in such a way that the rack 13 is shifted obliquely forward one row inthe direction of translation in order to sample the next row of fiveeggs 18 simultaneously.

This prescribed method shall be repeated until all consecutive eggs ofthe rack have been sampled in the longitudinal direction.

The position in the matrix of sample collection devices 4 in which theamount of liquid extracted is placed on the titer plate corresponds tothe position of the eggs in the racks. In this way, each egg in the rackcan be clearly assigned to a single sample collection device.

The entire egg inspection device may be operated via a touch-sensitivecomputer screen connected to the control unit 6. The computer screen inFIGS. 2A and B is provided with reference sign 30.

An example of a software user interface that controls the devicedisplayed on the computer screen 30 is shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows astate of the user interface in which the sampling method was completedonce. Therefore, in the schematic arrangement of the eggs in the racksshown on the right side, the squares are shown filled out.

If a particular egg has not yet been sampled, these squares are notfilled out, but merely drawn by a circumferential line.

In addition, FIG. 7 shows that each rack and the corresponding titerplate, into which the samples are delivered, can be clearly assigned toeach other. In the present example, this is ensured by an RFID tag,which is provided on a rack and on the titer plate. A tray number storedin the RFID tag can be assigned to a titer plate number.

Once all eggs of the rack have been sampled as desired, characterizationis usually not performed within the device according to the inventionbut in a separate device. This means that the titer plates filled withsamples are removed from the device and fed to an appropriate device todetermine the oestrone sulfate concentration. The fact that thearrangement of the eggs in racks is known and the position in which thecorresponding liquid is discharged from an egg in the racks means thatit is possible to determine later which egg in the racks corresponds towhich result on the titer plate.

Since the egg size can vary depending on the age of the laying hen, itis often difficult to sample all eggs with the same cannula length(projection of the cannula from the contact surface 19). This is becausethe protruding cannula length determines the depth from which thecorresponding amount of liquid is taken from egg 18. For example, toextract allantoic liquid, a predetermined depth must always be reachedat a previously described angle.

The protruding length of the cannula can be adjusted by means of thecontrol unit. For example, the control unit can set and vary the lengthof the cannula depending on the information about the respective egg,and thus selectively set a depth for each corresponding egg depending onits characteristics, e.g. its thickness, from which the amount of liquidis taken.

Alternatively or additionally, or also if the protruding cannula lengthcannot be changed, the control unit can move the sampling device forwarduntil the cannula is immersed in the liquid in the egg (allantois). Thecontrol unit can, for example, detect the cannula being immersed in aliquid (allantois) and stop the forward movement of the sampling unitwhen the desired depth is reached. The suction process is then started,for example.

The length adjustment of the cannulas can also be an invention initself, independent of the egg inspection device.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a detailed view of the sample delivery and cleaningassembly 26. This has a cover 35 for protection against environmentalinfluences such as dust, a first storage surface 36 on which the rinsingdevice 5 rests, and a second storage surface 37 on which the samplecollection devices 4 combined in the titer plate are placed. As shown inFIG. 5B, two titer plates are provided. Instead of the titer plate, anonwoven can also be provided in which the extracted sample isdischarged at various points.

Each of the two storage surfaces is fixed separately to atranslationally movable arm. The two arms can be moved independently ofeach other via the seventh actuator A7, the rinsing device 5 or thetiter plate/nonwoven from the basic position to the correspondingdelivery position for the sample unit or for rinsing or blowing outposition for the rinsing unit.

The cleaning assembly 26 can also be an invention in itselfindependently of the egg inspection device.

As shown in FIG. 6, the egg stamps 24 are designed as slightly conicalplastic sleeves 39 which have in their center an element 38 ofregulating and balancing material, e.g. compressible material. The eggstamps 24 are moved translationally by the third actuator A3 shown inFIG. 1 via the pistons attached to them on the bottom side. Here, thetip of the eggs is brought into contact with the element 38 ofregulating and balancing material and the eggs are held by the conicalplastic sleeves 39 which are designed as egg heads and which aresupported on their circumferential direction by suction cups.

In order to better determine the position of the eggs, instead of theelement 38 made of regulating and balancing material, lighting elementssuch as an LED unit can also be used to perform so-called shearing. Bymeans of this illumination of the eggs, positions of different groupswithin the egg can be better determined. For example, the egg can bereadjusted in order to better hit the allantois during piercing. Inaddition, it is conceivable that instead of the cannulas 12 which aremechanically height-adjustable by means of the fastening elements,further actuators are provided on the sampling devices 3 which enableautomatic adjustment of the cannula length via the control device 6.

It is advantageous, for example, to determine the size and shape of eachegg 18 by means of an observation device, such as a camera, in order toobtain information about the characteristics or position of each egg bymeans of image processing methods. This information can be passed on tothe control unit 6 which then adjusts the length accordingly via theactuators of the sampling devices for the respective cannula 12 of therespective sampling device 3. A connection with camera and light sourcefor the alignment of the egg is conceivable.

In the present embodiment, five eggs are sampled at the same time.Sampling is not limited to five eggs. A single sampling unit issufficient for this invention. Preferably, however, at least two eggs,in particular up to ten eggs, can be sampled simultaneously.

Even if in the second embodiment a vacuum control of the sampling iscarried out, alternatively, as in the first embodiment, a simple syringecan be provided which can be operated via a mechanical piston.

The present configuration of the egg inspection device makes itparticularly effective to puncture the eggs in an automated manner at anoblique angle, preferably by puncturing the sampling device, i.e. thecannula attached to it, in a vertical direction, i.e. in the directionof gravity, each egg being individually aligned slightly obliquely at anangle of 20° to 800°.

For this purpose, the eggs stored in the racks are fed obliquely to thedirection of gravity together with the racks via the feeding device andthen lifted out of the respective mesh of the racks by means of thelifting-out device perpendicular to this oblique surface.

The eggs are held in the lifting-out device, presently by means ofplastic sleeves 39 which are formed as suction devices comprising theegg head, and the stop element individually at the side, front and rearand independently of the rack, in order to ensure a selective exactpiercing under a predefined angle and to sample eggs.

By piercing the cannula 12 in a vertical direction (gravity direction),the angle at which the feeding device 1 feeds the eggs substantiallycorresponds to the inclination of the eggs with respect to the cannula12.

Particularly advantageous angle ranges are between 30° and 60°,preferably between 40° and 50°, in particular 45°. In particular, it isadvantageous to define the angle in such a way that the angle betweenthe cannula and the axis of rotation of the egg is seen from the base ofthe egg and not from the tip.

If the egg is twisted by exactly the angle described above in relationto its base, it has been shown that the allantoic liquid accumulates toa suitable extent at a well-defined position in the egg so that awell-defined amount of allantoic liquid can be extracted through thecannula.

In order to make this procedure even more reproducible, it isadvantageous that the tip of the cannula used has at least two openings.It has been shown that if only one opening is used, an ideal samplecannot be taken under all conditions. More than two openings in thecannula are also possible. In some circumstances, a single opening inthe cannula may also be advantageous.

It is advantageous to provide a UV lamp unit 41 (see FIG. 1) for theinspection device so that UV light is emitted from this UV lamp unit 41to the region where the eggs are sampled.

In particular, a UV tube can be used which extends along the z-axis,i.e. along the direction of the eggs lying next to each other. Inparticular, it has been shown that placing the UV lamp unit 41 betweenthe sampling device 3 and the sample delivery and cleaning assembly 26is advantageous.

In addition, the inclination with which the feeding device 1 feeds therack can also be changed selectively depending on egg characteristics.The settings of the entire device can be made via the control unit 6.

In particular, insofar as the egg inspection device is equipped with asystem for determining the position of the eggs, for example an opticalcamera system, this image information can be processed in order toselectively determine the position of the individual eggs for extractingthe amount of liquid and/or the length of the cannula as a function ofthe egg thickness, the egg size and/or the amount of liquid to beextracted.

The vacuum hoses can be configured such that their pressure can bevariably adjusted independently of each other for selective removal ofliquid amounts adapted to the egg condition.

In addition, instead of the individual sampling devices being attachedto a base plate, it may also be advantageous that the individualsampling devices can be moved relative to each other.

Insofar as the invention is based on the lifting-out device, this canalso be omitted completely and any combination or design of samplingdevice, rinsing device, sample collection device, rack, control device,position determining device, or even a single one of these elements canform an invention in itself. The aforementioned devices or elements canalso each form their own invention independently of the other componentsof the overall device.

The disclosure of the German patent application no. 10 2015 226 490.4 onthe method and details for determining the oestrone sulfateconcentration in allantoic liquid by means of the double antibodytechnique is made part of the disclosure of the present application bymeans of this reference.

-   Bezugszeichenliste-   Feeding device 1-   Lifting-out device 2-   Sampling device 3-   Sample collection device 4-   Rinsing device 5-   Control unit 6-   Egg stamp 7-   Stop element 8-   Syringe 9-   Base plate 10-   Vacuum hose 11-   Cannula 12-   Rack 13-   Frame 14-   Rail 16-   Grid 17-   Egg 18-   Contac surface 19-   Cannula 12-   Fastening element 20-   Plate element 21, 22-   Light barrier 25-   Sample delivery and cleaning assembly 26-   Trough for alcohol 28-   Collecting vessel 29-   Computer screen 30-   Gauge 31-   Step 32-   Counter surface 33-   Cover 35-   First storage surface 36-   Second storage surface 37-   Element of regulating and balancing 38-   Conical plastic sleeve 39-   UV lamp unit 41-   First actuator A1-   Second actuator A2-   Third actuator A3-   Fourth actuator A4-   Fifth actuator A5-   Sixth actuator A6-   Seventh actuator A7

1. An egg inspection device, comprising: a sampling device by which aliquid sample to be taken is extracted from a respective egg of a rackof the sampling device that is loaded with eggs; a feeding device forfeeding the rack loaded with eggs to the sampling device; a control unitby which the feeding device and the sampling device is controlled,wherein the feeding device is configured such that it feeds the rack tothe sampling device at an oblique angle of between 20° and 80° to aplane perpendicular to a direction of gravity; and a lifting-out deviceby which the respective egg is lifted out of the rack and by which therespective egg is brought into a sampling position in which therespective egg is pierced oblique to its axis of rotation and an amountof liquid is extracted from the respective egg for the liquid sample bythe sampling device, wherein the lifting-out device is controlled by thecontrol unit.
 2. The egg inspection device according to claim 1, whereinthe lifting-out device is configured such that it can rotate therespective egg lifted with it into a predetermined piercing position. 3.The egg inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the lifting-outdevice is a mechanical lifting-out device, or a lifting-out deviceoperated by an air stream, in which the respective egg is lifted by theair stream.
 4. The egg inspection device according to claim 1, whereinthe sampling device has a cannula which is connected to a vacuumgenerating device, wherein the amount of liquid to be extracted from therespective egg is controlled by the control unit via a pressuregenerated in the vacuum generating device.
 5. The egg inspection deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the sampling device comprises a cannularevolver with several cannulas.
 6. The egg inspection device accordingto claim 2, wherein the cannula contains at least two openings by whichthe amount of liquid to be taken from the respective egg is extracted.7. The egg inspection device according to claim 2, wherein a protrudinglength of the cannula, with which it protrudes from a contact surfaceprovided on the sampling device and which comes into contact with therespective egg during sampling, is adjustable.
 8. The egg inspectiondevice according to claim 4, wherein a protruding length of the cannulais adjustable by the control unit.
 9. The egg inspection deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the sampling device has a light barriervia which it is determined by the control unit whether the amount ofliquid extracted from the respective egg corresponds to a predeterminedamount of liquid to be taken.
 10. The egg inspection device according toclaim 1, wherein at least two sampling devices are provided, which arecombined in a sampling unit so that each sampling device of the at leasttwo sampling devices simultaneously extract the liquid sample to betaken from one egg of each rack, and in that at least two lifting-outdevices are provided, wherein, by a respective lifting-out device of theat least two lifting-out devices, the one egg of each rack associatedwith a respective sampling device lifted out of the rack and broughtinto the sampling position.
 11. The egg inspection device according toclaim 6, wherein the control unit is configured such that it adjusts theamount of liquid extracted from the respective egg individually for eachof the at least two sampling devices as a function of egg parameters ofthe respective egg assigned to the sampling device.
 12. The egginspection device according to claim 1, wherein the sampling device ismovable in the direction of gravity; and parallel to a surface withinthe rack, the sampling device is translationally movable by the feedingdevice in a first direction and is movable in a second direction that istransverse to the first direction of translation of the rack prescribedby the feeding device.
 13. The egg inspection device according to claim1, wherein a sample collection device is provided which collects theamount of liquid extracted from the respective egg by the samplingdevice and discharged from the sampling device.
 14. The egg inspectiondevice according to claim 10, wherein at least two sample collectiondevices are provided which are combined in one unit and from which theamount of liquid extracted from the respective egg by the at least twosampling devices is delivered.
 15. The egg inspection device accordingto claim 11, wherein the at least two sample collection devices combinedin the unit are configured by a nonwoven or a titer plate.
 16. The egginspection device according to claim 10, wherein the sampling device ispositioned in a delivery position after sampling and extracting the samefrom the respective egg, and wherein the sample collection device, whenthe sampling device is positioned in the delivery position, is movedfrom a sample collection device rest position to a reception position inwhich the sample is delivered from the sampling device to the samplecollection device.
 17. The egg inspection device according to claim 1,wherein a rinsing device is provided which, after sample delivery intothe sample collection device, is movable from a rinsing device restposition into a rinsing position in which the sampling device is rinsedby a pressure profile of a pressure generated in a vacuum generatingdevice.
 18. The egg inspection device according to claim 12, wherein asample collection device and a rinsing device for rinsing the samplingdevice are formed in one unit.
 19. The egg inspection device accordingto claim 1, wherein the lifting-out device comprises an egg stamp whichcan be moved through a mesh of the rack in order to lift the respectiveegg stored in this mesh out of the rack, and a stop element is providedagainst which the respective egg can be pressed by the egg stamp andwhich determines the sampling position.
 20. The egg inspection deviceaccording to claim 16, wherein an egg stamp and a stop element are eachassigned to at least one actuator which is controlled via the controlunit.
 21. The egg inspection device according to claim 1, wherein aposition determining device is provided by which a position of therespective egg is determined, wherein the control unit controls apositioning of the respective egg on the basis of the data of theposition determining device.
 22. The egg inspection device according toclaim 16, wherein a lighting unit is provided to illuminate therespective egg in order to carry out a position determination and/or acorrection of a position of the respective egg.
 23. The egg inspectiondevice according to claim 19, wherein the egg stamp is provided with alighting unit.
 24. The egg inspection device according to claim 1,wherein a UV lamp unit is provided by which at least one of thefollowing devices is illuminated in order to kill bacteria and/or germs:the eggs, the sampling device, a rinsing device, a sample collectiondevice, the lifting-out device.
 25. The egg inspection device accordingto claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured such that sampling ofthe eggs in the rack takes place automatically after insertion of therack with the eggs into the egg inspection device, and after all theeggs of the rack have been sampled all corresponding information isoutput.